Jlloyd Back & Bolton Are Watching!

According to reports today Bolton have joined the teams said to be eyeing a transfer window move for Jlloyd Samuel.

Charlton have been strongly linked and Fulham have been mentioned as admirers as well. Now apparently Big Sam Allardyce is looking at the 24 year old left back. Samuel would add some versatility for Bolton as he can also play in central defence.

Jlloyd has 18 months left on his contract but has fallen down the pecking order at Villa since the summer arrival of Dutch international Wilfred Bouma.

As Vital reported yesterday, the player has questioned whether his future lies at Villa having said:

'Inevitably, when the transfer window opens, there is talk especially when you are not playing regularly. My future at Villa is uncertain. It could be time for a fresh challenge. I'm paid to play football and that's what I want to do.'

With our squad down to the bare bones and especially bearing in mind Bouma is out injured again, I would think it would be highly unlikely that O'Leary would want to sell the player, although if Doug gets a sniff of money..........?!

O'Leary has confirmed that Samuel will start tomorrow with Bouma out with a knee injury and Gareth Barry suspended for picking up five yellow cards.

His last Premiership match was the loss to Manchester City in October.

O'Leary told the official site: 'Jlloyd comes in at left back. He's been out for a while - he's been injured for some of that time. So this is a chance for him again. I think all managers around the country find out about players when they bring players in for competition. Not just me. You find out about players who are up for the challenge and the players who are not up for that challenge. Jlloyd didn't have competition for a long time - now he has and he has to respond to that.'

Jlloyd said 'I've been training hard and if I'm given the chance then I will do my best to take it. It was good to be close to the action again on the subs' bench at Hull last week.'